BALTIMORE -- For a while there, it looked as if the Preakness was shaping up to
be a runaway victory for Kentucky Derby winner Orb.
Korey Toomer Jersey . Then came the
post-position draw. Suddenly things got very interesting. Orbs pursuit of the
Triple Crown received an unexpected jolt Wednesday when trainer Shug McGaugheys
horse drew the rail for Saturdays race. McGaughey tried to brush off the
development as a mere inconvenience, but he couldnt entirely mask his
disappointment over starting inside eight other horses in the smallest Preakness
field since 2007. "Obviously, if I was going to pick it out, I wouldnt have
picked the 1," McGaughey said. "But with only nine horses in there to run a mile
and three-sixteenths, with a rider like Joel (Rosario), hes going to figure out
what to do. Hell have him in the right spot." Thats the plan. Yet, if Orb doesnt
get in front early, he risks becoming pinned on the rail or pushed to the back
of the field. The inside post is even worse in the Derby, where this year there
were 19 horses in the field. "If it had come out the 1 in the Derby, youd almost
have felt like you needed to go home," McGaughey said. "But I dont feel that way
here." Still, history suggests Orbs advantage in this race has dwindled, even
though he was made the even-money favourite in the morning line. Only twice
since 1950 has a horse won from the No. 1 post -- Bally Ache in 1960 and Tabasco
Cat in 1994. So the rest of the field has a little bit more hope than it did
before Orb got stuck on the rail. "Out of the nine numbers, the 1 is probably
the one you want the least," said Al Stall Jr., the trainer of Departing.
Mylute, who will start from the No. 5 post as the second-favourite at 5-1,
trailed Orb for much of the race in Kentucky. This race could develop quite
differently with Orb inside. "We need to make up three or four lengths, and that
may be one of the factors that helps us," said Todd Quast, general manager of
GoldMark Farm, co-owner of the Derbys fifth-place finisher. Soon after the draw
ended, Mylute jockey Rosie Napravnik said on Twitter, "Perfect draw! super
excited! Quast said, "Were ecstatic about it. With this horse, it doesnt matter
as much, but it sure is nice being inside, a little bit toward the middle, and
then having Orb inside us and Departing inside us, the two big threats. Its
great to be outside of them." Departing, a bay gelding, won the Grade III
Illinois Derby on April 20 and skipped the Kentucky Derby because Stall did not
think the horse was ready. The trainer thinks it might be an advantage at the
Preakness. "In this day and age, the modern thoroughbred seems to like a little
time in-between races. I dont know why," Stall said. "So were fortunate enough
to have 28 days between the Illinois Derby and now. It gave us time to improve
and he really has improved. You can see it on a day-to-day basis when you train
him." Stall is among those who believe the rail wont be a hindrance to Orb. "The
post doesnt really matter in this type of race, this type of track with a
nine-horse field," he said. "Its just a good party to come to." Orb won the
Derby by 2 1/2 lengths and has won five straight races, so hes certainly worth
of being the favourite in spite of his starting position. "I dont know that the
rails all that bad," said Hall of Fame trainer D. Wayne Lukas, who has three
horses in the race: Oxbow, Will Take Charge and Titletown Five. "Orb is still
the one to beat." The field, from the rail, with odds in parenthesis: Orb (1-1),
Goldencents (8-1), Titletown Five (30-1), Departing (6-1), Mylute (5-1), Oxbow
(15-1), Will Take Charge (12-1), Govenor Charlie (12-1) and Itsmyluckyday
(10-1). Lukas was delighted with the post positions drawn by his trio of
entrants. "I love mine. I thought it was real good," he said. "Oxbow for a
change got inside a little bit. Hell be forwardly placed. We shouldnt have any
trouble. Im going to have to come up with a different excuse when we get beat."
Matt Slauson Jersey .com) - Yankee Stadium is
the home of the Bronx Bombers, but on Sunday afternoon it will open its gates to
host the latest addition of the Hudson River Rivalry.
Lance Alworth Jersey . Now, with Game 6 set
for Fenway Park and an 8:07 p.m. ET first pitch, the Detroit Tigers face the
unenviable task of having to beat the Boston Red Sox twice, on the road, to
advance to the World Series.
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. -- Los Angeles Lakers guard Jordan Farmar will be out for roughly four weeks
after tearing his left hamstring. Welcome to Week 2 of the NFL season. ESPN
Chalks Vegas experts have you covered with comprehensive betting previews for
all of Sundays action. Click on any (or all!) of the Insiderr links below for
complete analysis.
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